About Our Chapter

The Massachusetts Chapter was founded on January 27, 1990, to serve the needs of those living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and their caregivers.  We offer more than a dozen free services for patients and their families, including respite care, equipment loan, a children's program and support groups.

The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. ALSA covers all the bases — research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy — in providing help and hope to those facing the disease.

The ALS Association (National Office and the Massachusetts Chapter) operates under a shared mission: to help people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and to leave no stone unturned in search for the cure.

We work together to accomplish our mission. The Massachusetts Chapter focuses primarily on helping local patients and families live with ALS while the National Office focuses primarily on research and advocacy. The Chapter supports the National Office through revenue sharing and research contributions. The National Office supports the Chapters by providing up-to-date information and materials.  Our commitment to both helping people living with ALS and their families, and funding research worldwide is spoken emphatically through our Chapter slogan: Providing care today.  Supporting hope for tomorrow.

Our accomplishments are made possible by the generosity of others. From the smallest donation to the largest gift, donors touch the ALS community with hope for the future.

The Massachusetts Chapter Staff

Debra Sharpe - President
Debra brings a wealth of senior management and fundraising experience to The ALS Association, Massachusetts Chapter. In her more than 25 years experience in the not-for-profit sector, she has held executive posts in organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, ASLSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Southcoast Healthcare Systems to name just a few.

Her passion is in building sustainable, high-performing organizations that emphasize compassion, understanding and responsive service delivery. Much of her success over the years is grounded in her ability to work collaboratively with individuals, corporations and community partners alike to develop innovative and strategic partnerships and programs designed to benefit those served by the organizations from whom she has worked.

Above all else, Debra is committed to ensuring that ALS patients, families, and caregivers in Massachusetts are supported by a strong and vibrant organization, dedicated to fulfilling their needs and to delivering a consistent and clear message to both policy and law makers that nothing less than the total defeat of ALS is acceptable.

Barbara Hopcroft - Patient Services Manager
Barbara Hopcroft joined The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter as Patient Services Manager in 2008.  She was a founding member of the Chapter’s Board of Directors in the early 1990’s following receipt of her graduate degrees in social work and public health.  Her professional background includes clinical social work, research, organizing, advocacy and organizational development, and she spent 21 years as the Executive Director for a variety of non-profit organizations working with disabled elders.   Her expertise is in long term care and she received a scholarship to study the subject in Scandinavia in 2000.  Along with her husband, she runs the Chirimoto Development Project, a non-profit dedicated to infrastructure development and literacy in Peru.

Victor Gilmer - Finance Manager
Victor joined the Massachusetts Chapter in January, 2008 with an extensive background in consumer and real estate finance. He received his BS in management from Westfield State College, where he was an All-American member of the track and field team. He currently holds the Westfield State record in the hurdles event, and was inducted in the school’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. “Nothing motivates me more than the thought that what I do can bring PALS and their families’ relief by completing my daily tasks as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

Richard Lombardo - Communications Manager
Richard joined The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter as the Special Events and Community Relations Coordinator in May, 2007.  In April of 2008, he was named Manager of the newly established Communications Department.  In this role, Rich oversees all Chapter communications and marketing strategies.  As part of that, he serves as the point person for the newsletter, website, brochures/collateral pieces, and all press-related materials. He also heads the Massachusetts Chapter’s Advocacy and Public Policy efforts.  He is a member of the State ALS Registry Advisory Committee and the National ALS Association ePhilanthropy Peer Group.  Rich received his BS in Business Administration from Bryant College in December of 2003, with a concentration in marketing and a minor in communication.  He and his girlfriend, Kelli, reside in Woonsocket, RI.

Melinda Lubetz - Business Manager
Melinda Lubetz began employment with the Massachusetts Chapter in March, 2009.  Melinda’s career focus has been in non-profit management.  She has many years experience in the non-profit sector beginning as the retail manager for an historical landmarks foundation; and later as executive director of a regional chamber of commerce that served eleven suburban communities.  This was followed by a stint as executive director of a full-service humane society that operated a veterinary wellness clinic.  She also served as Vice President of an architectural firm for a number of years.  Her background encompasses both administration and fundraising and she hopes to use the whole of her experience in service to benefit the ALS patients and those that care for them.  Melinda wholeheartedly believes in Winston Churchill’s famous quote, “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Cara Campolo - Senior Development Associate
Cara joined the Massachusetts Chapter in June 2008. Her previous position was working with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a Regional Event Specialist where she managed several high profile Galas in the Boston area. Prior to her position with St. Jude she lived in Charlotte, North Carolina working with Wachovia Bank. Cara enjoys working in the non-profit sector because it can be completely rewarding to be able to make a difference in the lives of others. Cara is very committed to meeting the expectations of those affected by ALS and is excited to be a part of a great team.

Karen Baker - Care Coordinator
Karen Baker joined The ALS Association in January 2007.  She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, having worked in several health care settings since earning a Masters Degree in Social Work at Boston University in 1993.  She leads the New Bedford Support Group.  "This is a unique job, given the opportunity to travel to meet people throughout the state, in a variety of settings - home visits, support groups, nursing homes, and hospitals.  Every week I get the chance to meet new people.  A highlight of working here was traveling to Washington, D.C. for the 2008 National Advocacy Conference.  I saw how efforts to educate members of Congress about ALS can lead to changes in public policy which better support the needs of the ALS community." 

Stephen Elkin - Care Coordinator
Steve Elkin, LICSW, is a licensed clinical social worker at The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter. He graduated with a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University in 1974.  He has a thirty year career, with interests in case management and counseling individuals and families with chronic diseases and planning for medically complicated elderly clients.  He was most recently Program Manager at the Laboure Center Adult Day Health Program in South Boston, a unit of Catholic Charities. He has earned a Certificate in Geriatric Mental Health from Boston University School of Social Work, Institute of Geriatric Social Work.  He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Massachusetts Chapter. He lives with his wife and son in Sharon.

Charuta Pednekar - Care Coordinator
Charuta joined the Massachusetts Chapter in February, 2009. She has extensive case management experience and has worked with individuals suffering from chronic illnesses and disabilities in a variety of settings. Charuta completed her MSW degree from Simmons College in May 2008, where she focused on effects of psychiatric and chronic medical illnesses among adults and geriatric population. She has travelled to Kampala, Uganda and worked with families and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS and organizations involved in their care. She also holds a Masters degree in Sociology from University of Mumbai, India. 

Janet DiManno - Executive Assistant
Janet joined the ALS team in February of 2007 after working for an international placement agency as their Lead Administrator, developing and maintaining ongoing relationships with the Accounting Divisions Salaried Professionals. Prior to this position, she worked as a Leasing Consultant for a prominent real estate company in Braintree, MA. “I’ve always felt in my heart that it is the people you work with and the work that you do that makes the difference.”

Brenna Talbot-Dawkins - Communications Assistant
Brenna joined the Massachusetts Chapter in June of 2008 as the Development Assistant. She graduated from Westfield State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management, a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. Brenna always knew her career path would be in the non-profit sector and she begun that path with the ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she assisted the Event staff with various fundraisers and events in the New England region. In July of 2009, Brenna assumed the role of Communications Assistant.  In this position, she oversees the Chapter’s public and media relations in western Massachusetts.  She also provides support for the Chapter newsletter, website and collateral materials, and is the lead staff for grant and foundation proposals.

Erin Whitney - Patient Services Assistant
Erin joined The ALS Association Massachusetts Chapter in January 2009 as a part time administrative assistant. Since then, she has moved on to a full time position as the Patient Services Assistant. Prior to working at The ALS Association, Erin attended Berklee College of Music, majoring in music therapy. “I am inspired every day by my co-workers and what they do for those living with ALS and their families.  It is wonderful to be a part of such a dedicated organization.”